An Echo in the Bone (Outlander #7) by Diana Gabaldon

Author: Diana Gabaldon
Publish Date: January 1, 2009
Website: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/3617.Diana_Gabaldon
ISBN: 9780752898476
List Price: $7.81
My Rating: 3 out of 5 stars

Jacket Synopsis: 
Jamie Fraser, erstwhile Jacobite and reluctant rebel, knows three things about the American rebellion: the Americans will win, unlikely as that seems in 1778; being on the winning side is no guarantee of survival; and he’d rather die than face his illegitimate son — a young lieutenant in the British Army — across the barrel of a gun. Fraser’s time-travelling wife, Claire, also knows a couple of things: that the Americans will win, but that the ultimate price of victory is a mystery. What she does believe is that the price won’t include Jamie’s life or happiness — not if she has anything to say.

Claire’s grown daughter Brianna, and her husband, Roger, watch the unfolding of Brianna’s parents’ history — a past that may be sneaking up behind their own family.

My Comments:
Well, this is the first book in the series that I definitely struggled with. In all the other books, I found it hard to put them down. This one was the most boring and arduous book I've read since Stephanie Meyer's "The Host", ugh! This book is taking forever, and I mean forever to trudge through. This book has taken 3 times as long to get through because I just don't want to pick it up and read it, but I know I have to in hopes that it gets better.

Jamie's son, William, is becoming more of a main character and I feel there is no depth or thought put to developing this character. He is long winded and boring. Nothing exciting happens to him nor is his personality all that interesting. When I get to sections where William has written a letter or narrates his travels, I just want to skip to the next section for a different character. I feel that if I did skip his sections I would not miss anything.

Jamie and Claire are set on new travels once the house is burned and they need to find a way to help the revolution without physically putting themselves in harms way, if that is possible.

One of my favorite quotes: "Come to bed, a nighean. Nothing hurts when ye love me.” He was right; nothing did."

Brianna and Roger now have to follow their parents history from 1981 to know what eventually became of them.

Tissues again because of a character death and the story changes from Scotland back to America and now we will see the requirements for time travel again by family members. Not sure that I liked it ending with Ian and Rachel, but hopefully the next book will bring us back to center with Claire and Jamie and the immediate family members.

I've seen excerpts from "Written in my own heart's blood" (book 8) and I think that this next book will get everyone back on track. I just hope that it comes out in paperback soon because I am not paying $21.00 for a book that I am not sure will not be a repeat of this one.

Undead and Unworthy (Undead #7) by MaryJanice Davidson

Author: MaryJanice Davidson
Publish Date: June 24, 2008
Website: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/1429808.MaryJanice_Davidson
ISBN: 9780425221624
List Price: $7.99
My Rating: 5 out of 5 stars

Jacket Synopsis: 
Betsy Taylor thought entering the world of the undead was a big adjustment. Being a new bride isn't much easier. The blush has only been on for two months, and Betsy has a lot to do: set up the new house, finish writing thank-you notes, and raise BabyJon, her half brother and legal ward. Just another happy American family adjusting to marital bliss.

Betsy's husband, Sinclair, has been perusing the Book of the Dead, and Betsy's visited by a ghost who's even more insufferable, stubborn, and annoying in death than she was in life. She not only blames Betsy for her condition but insists she fix it. It's all just a prelude to the fun and games awaiting Betsy and Sinclair when a pack of formerly feral vampires, hungry for blood and power, pays a visit to the happy couple.

My Comments:
Another great book in the series...although sad when part of her eclectic crew appears to have been done in and sent to the great beyond. More drama for the Vampire Queen and as exciting as the first six... I cannot wait for book 8 and 9!

Undead and Unwelcome (Undead #8) by MaryJanice Davidson

Author: MaryJanice Davidson
Publish Date: June 2, 2009
Website: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/1429808.MaryJanice_Davidson
ISBN: 9780425227732
List Price: Varies depending on format
My Rating: 5 out of 5 stars

Jacket Synopsis: 
Betsy Taylor has problems that only a vampire queen/suburban wife could possibly understand...such as fifty thousand angry werewolves. That's what Betsy is facing when she takes her werewolf friend Antonia's body to Cape Cod, where the Pack resides at Wyndham Mansion. Because Antonia died in her service, Betsy is alive and well - and wracked with guilt. She has no idea if the Wyndham werewolves will welcome her with fangs or friendship. While Betsy and her husband Sinclair try to make nice, their legal ward BabyJon is freaking out every werewolf he comes in contact with. Meanwhile, Betsy's posse back at the St Paul mansion are not happy. Increasingly frantic emails alert Betsy to her half-sister's increasingly erratic behavior. Looks like the devil's daughter is coming into her own - and raising hell. All in the name of making Betsy's life easier, of course.

My Comments:
Another awesome continuation of the Queen Betsy series. Betsy is non-stop excitement with her crew of crazies, but she certainly keeps things in perspective when werewolves and other evil forces come into play. BabyJohn makes an interesting new character addition as he becomes something that we didn't expect. Good luck Betsy with that "baby". Of course Laura is influenced by her mother again unbeknownst to her and does some really, really bad things. Betsy has to visit the werewolves after Antonia dies and genuinely doesn't know what they are going to do to her... Of course Eric (Sinclair) is her constant support and defender... ah Love! Waiting for book #9 that comes out in July-2010...

Undead and Uneasy (Undead #6) by MaryJanice Davidson

Author: MaryJanice Davidson
Publish Date: June 5, 21007
Website: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/1429808.MaryJanice_Davidson
ISBN: 9780425213766
List Price: $7.99
My Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

Jacket Synopsis: 
Weddings are never easy. But when you're Vampire Queen Betsy Taylor, they can become downright deadly...

In the days leading up to The Big Day, Vampire Queen Betsy Taylor seems to have a full house - and the wedding guests have yet to arrive. Along with her human buddies, there's a ghost, a werewolf, and a Fiend crashing at her place. And though her fiancé, Vampire King Eric Sinclair, conveniently disappears when the conversation turns to seating charts and flower arrangements, he does manage to make his oh-so-sexy presence known at other moments.

Betsy knows the next few weeks won't be smooth sailing - but she never expects just what's in store for her. Cold feet are no surprise, especially with an undead groom. But when Sinclair truly goes missing - and not just to avoid wedding preparations - along with most of her friends and loved ones, Betsy is frantic. Alone and afraid for the fate of everyone she loves, Betsy can't trust anyone as she tries to find them and whoever is behind all the disappearances. And what happens next will shake the foundation of the vampire world forever.

My Comments:
I picked this book up because it was on a bargain stand at the book store, not knowing it was part of a series...by the second page I was hooked and laughing my butt off! I immediately went looking for books 1-5. I found this book hilarious and I can't wait to begin reading from the beginning. Betsy is such a character. She is strong, but naive and so matter-of-fact. If you want a hilarious, mildly sexual vampire series you have got to pick this series up!

Undead and Unreturnable by MaryJanice Davidson

Author: MaryJanice Davidson
Publish Date: May 30, 2006
Website: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/1429808.MaryJanice_Davidson
ISBN: 9780425210819
List Price: $7.99 (Paperback)
My Rating: 5 out of 5 stars

Jacket Synopsis:
As if she needed yet another reason to shop, Queen of the Vampires Betsy Taylor is in the middle of planning the perfect wedding to drop-dead gorgeous vamp Eric Sinclair. And she’s not about to let little things like death and blood-drinking get in her way.

But all is not bouquets and bridal showers—Betsy is plagued by ghosts who demand her help in rectifying their past mistakes, and a serial killer is on the loose. With his victims all being tall, blond women, Betsy fits the profile exactly...

My Comments:

I love Betsy! She is one of the most down-to-earth, hilarious characters you will ever find as the Queen of the Vampires. She has not yet fully accepted her queenly presence so she still goes about her normal life like when she was alive, but her brood at home is slowly growing to not only include her best alive-human friend, her vampire king/consort, his vampire body guard Tina, her half sister who is the daughter of the devil, a retired vampire slayer, a vampire fiend, and now a ghost... what next zombies... oh yes, zombies! Betsy helps you find the humor in any situation... I love her take on life or death...which ever way you look at it.

Dead and Loving It by MaryJanice Davidson

Author: MaryJanice Davidson
Publish Date: April 4, 2006
Website: http://www.maryjanicedavidson.net/
ISBN: 9780425207956
List Price: $14.00
My Rating: 3 out of 5

Jacket Synopsis: 
MaryJanice Davidson has enchanted readers everywhere with her delicious blend of wicked humor, sizzling sex, and totally unique vision of vampires and werewolves. In this collection of four novellas she brings her beloved Wyndham werewolves (featured in her acclaimed novel Derek's Bane) together with the vampires ruled by Betsy Taylor (from her bestselling Undead series).

Filled with equal parts of spicy heat and laugh-out-loud moments, this collection will drive Davidson's legion of fans wild with blood-pounding delight.

My Comments:
The Undead books are a great series and I have read all 9 books. I highly recommend to anyone the Undead Series (Queen Betsy). However, I was not so entertained or impressed by this short-story off shoot of the series. Please do not let that comment deter you from checking out the Undead Series because it is off-the-chart entertaining and I just love the characters. I really wish I knew Betsy in real life because her quips and come-backs are to die for (no pun intended).

The mini-stories in this book are interesting but you would certainly have had to read the Undead Series to understand the back stories behind the characters written about in this book. The author's style is uniquely inviting and just plain funny. The Undead series and this book include stories about Vampires, Ghosts, Zombies, Fiends, Werewolves, and the Devil Spawn. These characters are hilarious and interesting to watch them interact and live together. There is always some disaster that has to be attending to and Queen Betsy has the humor to get through it.